Frequently Asked Questions

The answers below are here to assist you in ordering the right document, understanding how to check on your orders, and getting the most of your Levelset account. Some features mentioned below such as Scout Research and deadline tracking are premium features for our subscription customers. Customers without a subscription plan will only receive research and deadline tracking on mechanics liens, bond claims, and other recorded documents. Subscribers also receive discounts on most document orders. Interested in premium features? Get a consultation to see how a Levelset subscription can help you get payments under control.

 

What type of document should I send, and how do I order through Levelset?

 A Levelset subscription includes full deadline tracking and document suggestions based on your project details. You can view our state-by-state resources for a full description of the typically required documents depending on your role in the project and the state where work was done.

If you would like to get started with ordering your document, please go here.

You will then be directed to select the type of document that you are wanting to send out. If you scroll over each document type, it will give you a description of the documents included.

The first time you order with Levelset, you will be required to agree to our terms of use, which can be found here.

 

How do I edit my order?

Should you need to change any information after placing an order, please call, email, or chat with our customer support team with your order number, company name, and the information that needs to be updated. Please keep in mind that if the order is sent prior to your request, you will typically need to place a new order in the system.

Phone: 866-720-5436

Email: mail@levelset.com

Chat: Live chat available on our website

 

What are my next steps after my lien is recorded?

Levelset is a great tool to help get your mechanics lien processed. Our team will also send your lien claim to any stakeholders required by statute to receive a copy (such as the hiring party or property owner). We also want to provide you with some options for next steps once your lien has been recorded. We have an article explaining the best possible next steps available here.

Here at Levelset, we also offer a voluntary document that you can send in an attempt to receive payment called a “Certified Notice of Intent to Foreclose.” This may be useful to prompt payment of the recorded lien prior to needing to actually initiate a lawsuit. This product is located under the “Something Else” option when creating a new document.

Looking for help with collections options? Check out our list of Construction Payment Experts where you can get in contact with someone in your state.

 

I got paid! What should I do now?

That’s great! We love when our customers get paid fairly for the work they have done. If you have been paid for your project, you may want or statutorily be required to release or cancel your lien claim. You can release your lien through your Levelset account by placing a new order under the “Release of Claim” option.

You can mark your job as paid in your account by going to the job summary page and clicking “Archive Project” in the right-hand column.

 

Where can I find resources to see how lien laws affect my project?

We offer comprehensive, free resources for every state on our Construction Payment Resource Hub. Choose which state your project is in and select your role on the project to see a guide to your notice, lien, and enforcement deadlines and requirements, as well as frequently asked questions. There are also a multitude of blog articles available on our Construction Payment Blog.

 

Do you offer discounts for ordering multiple documents?

If you have a high volume of projects and think you may be sending documents often, we suggest upgrading to a cost-effective subscription account. For more information on the different plans available, please go here.

 

I have a coupon code. How do I use it?

You can use it while placing an order through the document navigator, or within the “Create New Document” option in your account. You can enter the code on the final step before you enter your credit card information. Please note that coupon codes are case sensitive and will not work if the code you enter does not exactly match the provided code.

 

How can I use mail tracking?

Levelset will send your documents pursuant to state requirements, which means your mail pieces might include certified tracking numbers. First class mail typically will not include tracking information, but any documents mailed certified or certified with return receipt typically will. It typically takes USPS about 2-3 business days to upload the tracking info. You can check on this in your account at any time! Start by clicking the Documents tab to your left, then hover your mouse over the document and click on the green VIEW button on the right. On the right hand side, you’ll see the recipients and the mail tracking will appear there with a clickable link to USPS.

 

Why am I seeing an “error” on my mail tracking?

Sometimes you may notice the word “error” associated with your mail tracking. This error message can mean several things. In most cases, it means Levelset has not received an update from USPS. Any detailed updates will be posted on USPS and in Levelset once available.

 

How can I track deadlines for my projects?

The best way to receive comprehensive deadline tracking of all of your projects in one program is through a subscription to Levelset’s software. If you are only interested in tracking deadlines for one or two projects, try our Payment Rights Advisor. This free tool makes it easy to find your deadlines and next steps to get paid on any job.

 

I’ve ordered my document – what happens now?

Congratulations on placing your Levelset order! Keep an eye on your email for order updates, Scout Research alerts, and other communication about your order.

Our typical processing time is 3 – 5 business days for all orders placed through standard processing. If you rushed your order, our typical processing time is 1 business day. If you forgot to rush your document, you can contact support at mail@levelset.com to add the rush priority for your order.

When you order a document from Levelset, a free account is created where you can view and manage all your orders, place new orders, and receive documents from other Levelset users. Log in here to view your orders and related documents.

 

How do I access my receipt?

After your order has been submitted, you will automatically be emailed a purchase receipt. If you did not receive this email or need an additional copy, please contact customer support at mail@levelset.com and they will be happy to have another copy emailed to you from our billing team.

 

How can I check what I entered on my order?

Within your account, select the Documents tab on the left hand side, hover over the order you’d like to see, and click the “View” button. This will pull out a window with all of your order details. Most of the order information can be found on this page, but if you need further information, there is a link on the top right side of the screen titled “View All Document Details.” You can view or download any of the order’s attachments from this module. All of the information you originally provided on your order will be on your Order Summary document included there.

 

What is Scout, and what are Scout alerts or notifications?

Our Scout team uses millions of relevant data points and in-house research experts to help you get your project information right. Scout data alerts are usually suggestions on the data you provided and are often prompted by someone on our research team. 

 

Are all documents researched by Scout?

Scout Research only applies to mechanics liens, bond claims, and associated releases when ordering through the document navigator or your free account. Scout is a premium feature for our subscription users to receive research related to their projects. If you filed a document that received Scout research or ordered a la carte research through our support team, you may receive alerts or suggestions.

These suggestions will be active in your account for 2 business days; if they are not resolved by that time, the suggestions will expire and Levelset will default to the information you provided. If you have any questions about resolving your Scout notifications, we suggest reaching out to our support team for assistance at mail@levelset.com

 

I have another question!

If you have a question we did not answer on this page, give us a call at 866-720-5436 or use our chat function to chat with someone on the Levelset team. You can also send your suggestions for this FAQ page to mail@levelset.com with a subject like FAQ suggestion.

 

You can get in touch with a Construction Payment Expert through Levelset’s Expert Center. This resource is the only free Q&A website specifically created to help the construction industry with payment questions and has already answered over 4,300 questions from contractors struggling with payment problems. A growing network of Construction Payment Experts around the country–including attorneys, accountants, and consultants–volunteer their expertise to answer over 100 unique questions every week.

Additionally, Levelset’s legal team hosts a live Q&A every Thursday from 10am -12pm (CST) during which you can ask a question and get legal information right from here.

Why am I receiving documents from Levelset?

Levelset is on a mission to make everyone on a construction project visible to each other so construction payments happen with ease. Levelset creates and delivers documents on behalf of other parties on your construction projects so collaboration can be transparent.

There are a number of documents you may have received.

 

How do I add my logo to the cover page of the preliminary notice?

You can customize your documents with your logo and company name by clicking the settings “cog” wheel in the top-right of your account, clicking “Company and Users”, then clicking “Company and Info“. To add a logo, click “Edit Company Logo” and then select your file. To add the rest of your company info, click the green “Edit” button in the top right.

 

Preliminary Notices

The purpose of this document is to provide visibility into who is working on a job. Preliminary notices are often sent by contractors and suppliers to the general contractor, property owner, and other project stakeholders. Receiving a preliminary notice is a common occurrence and does not indicate that there are payment problems on the job. Many states require that contractors send these documents for the benefit of the recipient.

 

Notices of Intent to Lien

Receiving a notice of intent to lien indicates that a contractor or supplier on a construction project has not been paid and is considering filing a mechanics lien. By sending this document before filing a lien, the sender is giving you or other parties on the job a chance to resolve the payment dispute before a lien is filed. To resolve a dispute, scroll to the top of this page and enter your email and reference number. You will be able to communicate with the sender to clear up the dispute.

 

Monthly Notices

Some states require that contractors and suppliers send monthly notices to notify project stakeholders of outstanding invoices or payment applications. This document does not necessarily indicate payment problems on the job.

 

Lien Waivers

Lien waivers are constantly exchanged on construction projects. They are usually sent by subcontractors and suppliers to the general contractor and other parties at the top of a job like the property owner or lender. General contractors frequently request that the parties hired to work on a job provide waivers. Signing a lien waiver generally waives lien rights as described in the waiver.

 

Payment Applications

Construction pay applications are the documents exchanged between contractors during payment. Pay applications can be called many different things including payment applications, applications for payment, pay apps, invoices, and more. At its core, a pay app is a detailed invoice, a document that provides information about the progress of a project pursuant to a contract, and requests corresponding payment.